The three of them were seated at the table when the young maid returned, now carrying dinner.
The smell of food filled the room, but no one seemed truly focused on it.
Eduardo leaned lightly against his chair and looked at Augusto.
"And Helena?"
The question came out simply, but there was something more behind it.
"It's been a while since I've seen her."
Augusto replied naturally:
"She's well… more than that, she's doing great."
A faint smile appeared.
"She's still as beautiful as ever."
Eduardo nodded slowly.
He didn't comment for a few seconds.
But his gaze softened, almost imperceptibly.
Then he turned to Luis.
He observed him again.
More carefully this time.
"And you…"
He paused briefly.
"This is the first time I've truly seen you."
Luis maintained his posture.
"Yes, sir."
Eduardo tilted his head slightly.
"I admit… I expected something else."
A hint of a smile appeared.
"Perhaps a spoiled young man."
"Or someone still lost in his own position."
He shrugged.
"But it seems that's not the case."
Luis replied calmly:
"I'm glad not to disappoint you."
Eduardo let out a small breath through his nose, almost a chuckle.
"We'll see."
Luis inclined his head slightly, and a brief silence followed.
Then Luis continued speaking:
"But, if you allow me… there's something I'd like to make clear."
Augusto gave him an inquisitive look.
Eduardo simply gestured with his hand.
"Go on."
Luis lightly rested his fingers on the table.
"I know I'm still young."
A short pause.
"But that doesn't mean I'm incapable."
His eyes never left his grandfather's.
"I trust what I can do."
"And I know how far I can go."
Silence followed.
Eduardo observed him with a faint trace of skepticism.
"Confidence is rarely lacking in the young."
"Judgment, on the other hand…"
Before Luis could respond, Augusto intervened:
"In this case… I can vouch for him."
Eduardo turned his face to his son-in-law.
"Are you sure?"
Augusto nodded.
"I am."
He paused, as if deciding how far to go.
"He's already begun to prove it."
Eduardo raised an eyebrow slightly.
Augusto continued:
"The estate's sawmill was completely redesigned by him. We even had to build a new structure. Everything—from the machine to the bricks in the walls—is entirely new. And many times more complex and efficient than before."
"It was adapted to operate on steam."
Silence returned to the table.
But this time… it was different.
Adriano, who remained standing nearby, also lifted his gaze slightly.
Eduardo turned his attention back to his grandson.
"Steam-powered?"
Luis nodded.
"Originally, I intended it to be a prototype. But it has now been running for over three months without faults… so I believe it can already be considered a mature product."
"But production has already increased."
Of course, that was only an excuse from Luis. He knew the machine was already at a technological level far beyond its time.
Eduardo crossed his arms.
"How much?"
Luis answered directly:
"Approximately fifty percent."
"It could be more, but transportation is still a limiting factor."
Eduardo remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he made a small gesture with his hand.
"Explain."
Luis did not hesitate.
As he spoke, his posture subtly changed.
Less defensive.
More technical.
More precise.
He explained the basic operation, the limitations, and the adjustments he still intended to make.
No exaggerations.
No attempt to impress.
Just… explaining.
Eduardo listened without interrupting.
But his eyes never stopped—he was growing more interested in his grandson by the second.
When Luis finished, the old man simply nodded.
"Very good."
But his gaze said far more than the words.
Then came the unspoken tests.
Simple questions… at first glance.
"And the cost?"
"And maintenance?"
"And labor?"
"And transport?"
"And risk?"
Luis answered them all.
Sometimes directly.
Sometimes after a few seconds of thought.
But never avoiding them, and never rushing.
The conversation flowed, shifting topics constantly—moving back and forth.
Politics.
Commerce.
Logistics.
Decisions.
Luis quickly began to realize that his grandfather wasn't asking questions.
He was setting traps.
Small, elegant ones.
And waiting to see where the other would step.
An old fox.
Experienced.
Dangerous.
But not… unfair.
There was balance there.
During the conversation, Helena's name came up more than once.
Always indirectly.
Always casually.
But too frequently to be a coincidence.
It was easy to sense how much he missed her.
Time passed without them noticing.
When dinner was nearing its end, Augusto finally decided to steer the conversation elsewhere.
"We need to talk about the reason for our visit."
The atmosphere shifted subtly.
Luis immediately became alert.
Eduardo rested his arms on the table.
His gaze turned more serious.
"The situation… is not simple."
He paused.
"And I still don't have all the information."
He looked at Augusto.
"My men should bring confirmations by early tomorrow."
Silence.
"But I can tell you one thing…"
His eyes briefly passed over Luis.
"This is not a small problem."
Augusto nodded.
"Then we'll talk tomorrow."
Eduardo confirmed with a slight nod.
After that, the conversation lost its weight.
They remained at the table for a while longer, finishing the meal in a lighter tone.
Until, finally, they stood.
A maid led Luis to his room.
The corridor was silent.
The house now felt different.
Quieter.
More suffocating.
When they arrived, the door was opened.
"If you need anything, young master…"
"I'll let you know," Luis replied.
Luis entered.
He thanked the maid briefly and walked to the window.
Outside, the night was deep.
Almost absolute.
Only a few distant lights broke the darkness.
He stood there for a few seconds.
In silence.
Thinking.
Then his eyes hardened.
There was something different now.
It wasn't just curiosity.
Nor just caution.
It was intention.
Cold.
Focused.
"One step at a time…" he murmured, almost inaudible.
But this time…
He knew exactly where he was going.